Mary Ellen McNish

Mary Ellen McNish, Secretary General, American Friends Service Committee.

"Mary Ellen McNish was appointed general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee by its board of directors in June 2000. In this position, she is responsible for the administration of programs and projects in more than 22 countries and nine regions in the United States. Before joining the Service Committee, Ms. McNish was executive director of development at Weil Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the assistant vice president for development at Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pa.

"She has more than 20 years of progressive responsibility in nonprofit management. Ms. McNish has worked for the Young Women's Christian Association of Camden County (N.J.) and the Burlington County (N.J.) Community Action Agency. A former chief operating officer of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Ms. McNish spent 13 years in several roles in the Friends General Conference, including assistant presiding clerk. She is an experienced public speaker and has particular strengths in strategic planning, fundraising, team building, operations and organizational development. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from East Stroudsburg University and a master’s degree in business from The Johns Hopkins University."

"From 1992: When she was 45 she was the founder and organizers of the Quaker Overground Railway, she is a member of NOW, and now works for Planned Parenthood.